Miller was at home on Wednesday working in her office around 3 p.m. when she heard a loud boom.

“I felt it in my chest. It was so powerfully strong. My desk is actually right here and it hit right here. So it was just a few feet away,” Miller said.

At first she thought lightning hit in the backyard but then she started to smell electrical wires burning, so she grabbed the dog and ran outside as back of the house exploded in flames.

"This gigantic ball of fire and black smoke just boomed and boomed right off the patio,” Miller said.

She frantically called 911, realizing her cat, Binx, was still trapped inside. Luckily fire crews were able to get her out. The lightning strike was so powerful it went clear to the front of the house. There are black marks around the vents and electrical outlets.

"It looks like it came through every orifice in the house,” Carrie’s boyfriend, Neal said.

While the clean-up and rebuilding process will take months, the couple are grateful to have survived and that the family pets made it out safely too.

"If I had been, If I had stayed here with him a little longer or if I hadn't have gone outside – it would have just…him and I would have burned alive,” Miller said.

“It’s depressing, but I have her, I have my dog and the cat,” Zalagens said. “We are thankful to the Green Valley fire department.”

Dozens of people spent Wednesday afternoon putting the finishing touches on their wagons for the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade. There are a total of 81 wagons in this year's parade. Close to 2,400 people and 560 horses will be walking in the parade as well.

Dozens of people spent Wednesday afternoon putting the finishing touches on their wagons for the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade. There are a total of 81 wagons in this year's parade. Close to 2,400 people and 560 horses will be walking in the parade as well.